Friday, May 18, 2012

Former child star: 'It warps your ability to find a certain identity'

Nick Stahl, who has struggled with addiction for years, has been missing since May 9. What he had to say about child stardom when Brad Renfro died is haunting. 

Update: After 10 days of being MIA, Stahl texted his wife Friday night to say that he is okay and plans to go into rehab.

Stahl on the set with Mel Gibson in 1993
The gifted former child actor Stahl was just 13 years old when he turned in a extraordinary debute performance as Chuck, a boy who is desperate to get into boarding school and is tutored by a disfigured neighbor played by Mel Gibson. Stahl turned to drugs in his teen years and beyond, and recently lost custody of his young daughter. When fellow teen heart-throb Brad Renfro died of a heroin overdose in 2008, Stahl had this to say about child stardom

"It warps your ability to find a certain identity. You are in a strange limbo. You are working in an adult world but being very young, you are not a part of it. You can't be included in it really. Then you go home and because you're with your friends not all that often, you're not fully a part of that, either. There are certain superficial elements of the business. Kind of putting on a good face even though you might be in pain."




Here's praying and hoping Stahl shows up safe and sound soon. 

224 sediments (sic) from readers:

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Tamara said...

University, or shall I say attending university is not the problem. Those 3 to 4 years are used to do much more than gain an academic education. The problem is the ridiculous ranking systems the media and other groups produce. That kids, or in many cases their parents, feel that only this ivy league or baby ivy or whatever is the one worth attending. Ignore the cache of going to whatever university is In, and go to one you like and can afford. I'd rather go to Phoenix than Yale any day. Or even The University of Life. I'm more worried about the education kids get from age 3-16. That is the real proving grounds.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

This billionaire actually had the opposite opinion. Only go to college if you got into a name brand school like Harvard or Yale or you have to go to college because your field requires it, like doctors or lawyers. He thinks that some of the for-profit lower ranking schools are scams on the order of mortgage scams.

Provocative opinion, but I'm really glad 60 Minutes is getting people talking about this issue. And they were fair too they talked to people who think this guy is a nut. I heart them so much.

Red Sky At Night said...

Remember "Oh, yes, she does," the Pap wife, and the many other pen names she/he went by and various jobs up and down the East Coast, with claims of inside information? The person showed up again on GWOP under two names, "Family within ABC" and Anonymous, with a diatribe about Kate's encore on DWTS.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

For the life of me I cannot figure out why GWOP is even publishing that person.

PJ's momma said...

Another coincidence, on the fictional series "The Big C", the very successful Susan Sarandon character was advising a dufus on how to 'brand' himself. Everything she said was true! If Kate had kept her narcissism at bay and her mouth shut, she could have been branded as super-mom, super-organizer, super-runner, etc.

Kristine said...

I apologize if anyone buys it... but I really think when Kate says those extensions are "All mine"-- it is Katespeak for paid for fake hair.

Kristine said...

I think it's fine to post about her... do what you want. I appreciate reading the truth here.

NJGal51 said...

In a clip tonight on CP Lisa said to one of the other women: "I'm not going to talk to you any more because you have lies made up in your head" and "Enjoy the delusion of your life". Both statements could have been made directly to Kate.

PJ's Momma - you're right about the branding message on The Big C tonight. Kate is her own worst enemy and yes Kate had her chance to brand herself but her ego got in her way at every turn. It will be interesting to see how things play out with Paul and his "flip the switch" branding.

Kristine said...

A few years ago, I posted about Kate and her inability to be satisfied with her life. It was a quote from Adam Sandler's movie 'Funny People'- something about how "You will never be happy, because when you look in the mirror you will always see YOU... Wake up in the morning again, look in the mirror... still YOU." Riveting.

Red Sky At Night said...

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 5

For the life of me I cannot figure out why GWOP is even publishing that person.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Hard up for posts? I find it interesting since there are so many rules, and then they post "insider" info from someone who has a terrible track record there and is so transparent with no credibility whatsoever.

Improbable Dream said...

This is pretty funny...think Purse Boy.

RT @DrGailSaltz Gearing up 4 a great @todayshow this morning! Up 4 debate: should u be friends with your boss? NO keep it professional.

PJ's momma said...

NJGal51, I almost gave up on Nurse Jackie and The Big C after last season as they felt so flat. But they have ramped up again! Could have done without that last scene from Paul, but yes, it'll be interesting for sure. That branding advice is good for any public figure who is looking for a quick buck. Apparently it works! Well, you have to be likable for starters though.....sorry, Kate!
I've been meaning to tell you, my hubby's an Air Force veteran too! We might have even been stationed at the same places.

Dmasy said...

My recording of Celebrity Apprentice was missing lengthy chunks -- fierce thunderstorms in my area. But, I did get to see the ending. I thought both Clay and Aresenio were dignified and classy gentlemen. Very uplifting.

JoyinVirginia said...

Dmasy, the neatest thing on CA finale. Lisa was working on Arsenios team, but during the events she got a minute to sneak over to clays side of the event space and give him a check for ten thousand of her own money!

Tamara said...

The only time I would consider Harvard to be worth it is for any degree after you've earned your bachelor. And I wouldn't be an Eli if you paid me ;)

Gee, Jon and Khate both interviewed in less than a week? Sad week for their kids.

silimom said...

Interesting 60 minutes, Admin. I actually have a friend who worked at Stanford and she advised not going there for a BA. The issue at these big name schools is that the great, brilliant professor you're paying thousands of dollars for to take their undergrad class and learn from has farmed said undergrad class to his graduate or doctoral student because said brilliant professor wants the time to
do research instead of teach 18-20 somethings.

She said go to Stanford for an MA or higher, when it matters where your advanced degree comes from.

Because our kids are on the autism spectrum, we have attended a lot of "Life after high school" type programs and workshops. Some of the best advice we got was to look at what your child wants to study, what their other learning needs are and then find a college that meets those needs, rather than worrying about Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc.

silimom said...

That all being said, I'm also a big believer in "Go to
college when you're ready to learn". Sometimes kids go to college because they can't think of anything better to do with their time. I say to them, get a job and work for a while. College will always be there. But if you go when you're not really invested in being there, you'll flunk out and that's not good in the long run.

One thing we need to remember in this country and in education is that not every kid is college material. I don't mean that in any demeaning or eltist way. Just that we have this "one size fits all" mentality about education but not all kids learn in that "traditional" format. Some kids do better in vocational programs (the "shop" or "business" classes of my youth). Again, I'm not saying we need to track kids but we need to balance the pendulum and offer those hands on classes in addition to all of the academics. I bet if we did, we'd see our high school drop out numbers go down.

I'll get off mybsoap box now.

Pity Party said...

Interesting that she is referring to the kids now as my family, instead of my kids. Which it is her family, but it is a switch from previous. Another play on words so if anyone asks if she has seen her family, she can yes. Updates on the family sounds eerily like she may have an announcement in that regard. Money saving tips from someone who spends money like she does is a joke. I am sure she will bring up the CS that is all over her Twitter, and that Jon can have the kids anytime he asks but he never asks. And of course the child support that he has to scrape up every month won't even buy lunch. But he is trying, NOW, but....

I don't have to watch I can hear it in my head.

mama mia said...

So, it is great to see you again, you are looking good..
"Um, giggle, thank you, we enjoy organics food at OUR house."
And you are stilling running marathons?
"YES, gosh um I love running marathons".
I understand you have some money saving tips for us?"
"YES, did you know staying home and using the backyard pool can um like save hundreds of dollars spent going to the movies, that is like um free money in your pocket. (earpiece hisses 'you bitch, the studios own this network)
"But um MOVIE night at our um house is like HUGE oh my gosh the kids so look forward to anything um Pixar-ish or um Disney.
Now I read that Jon is writing a book and has a new girlfriend, have you two moved on to a better place now?
YES, sigh, it has been so stressful (wipes eye) you know um being a single mother of EIGHT kids and then um like having to make um sure they are like okay going to their um Dad's.. but I don't know anything about a book. We have chickens!
So life is good, how is your love life?
"Giggle, oh my gosh like he would have to like be waiting for me like at the end of my next half marathon (insert city) with arms wide open, open enough for like EIGHT kids, but I don't see that happening.
Well enjoy your summer and say hi to the kids from all of us who actually are employed and working on tv.

Mrs. Malaprop said...

Whoever said that in Kate's interview she would say the kids miss filming - you nailed it!!!! She did say that. She also said that "her fans" are asking to see the kids again. And she could not stress enough how GREAT all the kids are doing in school. (Maybe that's because she's not pulling them out all the time for filming! Ya think?)

She is a Cow said...

Kate's an ass. She has nothing. She mentioned the marathon. Gave her usual useless tips on saving. Threw Jon under the bus by acting like thingd are much better now that he wants to spend more time with the kids and the worst, worst, wrorst part of all, is her claiming that she would put those kids back on TV in a hot minute if something came up. Claims her fans (all 10 of them) are begging to see them grow up. She mentioned hat she is now out of the TLC contract and is ready and waiting for someone to just scoop her up, because her kids really miss the crew and having every private moment of their life filmed! She also said the kids "kids party" is still coming. This may just have been a reaction to Anne saying what kind of celebration did you have for the kids. She also went on about how they always swim on their birthday, whether it is 40* or not.

Oh. Trump is now on Today and said they are overwhelmed with celebrities that want to be on CA. For every 5 that want to be on, 1 gets picked. Good luck with that Kate. Also, makes it unbelievable that she says they ASK her all the time, when in reality, the celebs go to Trump. LIAR

Mrs. Malaprop said...

And her hair! Ugh! Who is telling her that the flat, straight, long hair parted down the middle is flattering on her?
When she talked about her blogging they showed her in the Coupon Cabin office typing and then sitting around a big table with her . . . coworkers? As if they're brainstorming ideas or something. It was laughable!
She's putting her recipes together and has 8 recipe testers at home. Good luck with that Kate.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Sillimom I completely agree with you (again!). I don't like the one sized fits all everyone should go to college thing. I knew some people miserable in college. College is not going to give you much benefit if you are miserable and just trying to get through it. It was the same with law school. My first year you could tell there were five or six students truly in hell. Most of them didn't come back. Those that did suffered through it. If it's not for you it's not for you. I think kids should do what they are passionate about. If it's college, cool. If it's skipping college and learning a trade on your own, cool. Just be happy and passionate.

60 Minutes had such a good point, plumbers and trades like that are making just as much if not much more than many people who graduate with liberal arts degrees.

And I totally agree about college always being there. If you think it's not for you don't go. It's much easier to go back to school any time these days what with night school programs and online.

I love that quote from Good Will Hunting when he's making fun of the guy who was bragging about Harvard and saying I got the same education for $1.50 in library overdue fees. The guy says well you'll be serving me and my kids fries on our ski trips. He says, but at least I won't be unoriginal. LOL.

Angie said...

The kids are excelling across the board, yes, the kids across the board are excelling. Well, that proves to me that the school teachers broke their butts with these 6 kids who had no idea what going to school full time was about, also about listening to the teachers, not spitting at them, as they did at home with each other, not hitting anyone they wanted, which is what they did at home. At home while on TV, they fought all the time, the mild mannered tups had to hide. It was sad to see and then hear Kate scream at everyone.

This may be the first time that Kate is the mother, not one of the hired hands to dress the kids, make sure the kids had their baths (like Ashley & Jaime) and now Kate has to do that. So the kids are in bed, asleep at a good time when they can get all the sleep they need. No suitcases being packed as Kate complains about her Lists of clothing, some hired help not getting things correct and whew! poor Kate having to do everything.
Now those teachers have managed to get those kids interested in school, learning, finding out their weaknesses (yet not giving info to TV stations that dyslexia may be involved) and those kids are doing great. They have the whole grounds, a pool, chicken house, more toys than most toy stores, a big house, big beautiful bedrooms. I think these kids could learn they aready live in a Vacation area and enjoy their home, land and the surrounding historical areas. No way these kids need to pack another bag and go to a strange place where they can't play with anyone but each other, as now they are learning social skills after all the hard work of the teachers.

Leave the kids at home Kate, go find yourself a free trip and let their father be with his children while you seek more free trips, exotic voyages. You are sad. But your children are finally happy and learning how a balanced life can be.

TLC cancelling your show may have saved your children's lives. I do agree with that. Now, unless you keep putting their photos on that stupid web site of yours, no one knows your children and how they are growing and changing.

I say and I pray that you leave your children to have a childhood finally. especially your sons, those poor boys have always been dirt under your feet and that is very sad. I often wondered if it was because they look more like their father and I think it is.

good luck to you Kate, but get yourself a real job, get back into the real world. You once were in it, remember a job? Get back to that, disappear from twittering. Learn how to find peace in that beautiful home of yours and join a charity where you can do some good. But leave those kids at home, alone.

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